Two of my sons and I went to a local taco stand on Wednesday when we found that the line for hot dogs was too long at the VFW Hall after the Veterans Day parade and ceremony.

We found an old acquaintance there and chatted with him briefly. Then after we ate, we ran into some friends and stood talking with them outside the establishment. From the corner of my eye, I noticed the acquaintance, a Vietnam vet, who seemed to be waiting for me in the wings.

When my friends departed, he called me over and said, “Manuel, read what’s on my T-shirt.” In unison, he and I read out loud, “Freedom is not free.”

He looked at me momentarily as if to see if I had properly registered the message.

I said, “Yeah, freedom is not free.”

Then he asked, “Do you think you could sneak that message into an article or an editorial? I think we really need to remind people. They forget.

“You know,” he went on. “Many soldiers have come back and many have returned home not whole. We’ve suffered not only physical injuries, but emotional and mental. We carry that for the rest of our lives.”

A look of angst took hold of his face and, after a pause, he swallowed and repeated, “Freedom is not free.”

I don’t know his full story or what injuries he may or may not be suffering for the rest of his life. But I know that his request came from the pit of his gut. So in honor of you and all those whom you represented in that brief, but heartfelt and impacting encounter at the taco stand, here it is:

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

(Write us at 268 W. View Point Dr., Nogales, Ariz., 85621 or manuel.coppola@nogalesinternational.com.)